Woman Breaks Arm Saving Pets from Vicious Attack by Two Loose 'Bully' Dogs

A woman has shared her harrowing experience of being injured while protecting her dogs from an attack by two other dogs in Denton, Tameside, in a bid to warn other dog walkers and parents.

Cheryl West, 53, was walking four of her seven dogs along Town Lane earlier this month when the incident occurred.

Cheryl was walking her Pomeranians, Jade and Jasmine, and Chihuahuas, Poppy and Teddy, when she noticed two dogs, which she believes were of the Bully breed, off their leads in a field near a mini-roundabout. As she and her dogs walked beside the field, the two dogs suddenly bolted towards them.

"One of the dogs grabbed Jade by the body, and I kicked it multiple times and tried to pry its mouth open to get it off her," Cheryl recalled. "It was violently shaking her like an alligator. The dog walker in the field did nothing. I was screaming in pain as my right arm was broken in three places while trying to protect her."

Despite Cheryl's efforts, the other large dog grabbed Poppy by the neck, but Poppy "played dead" and was released. However, Poppy was later taken to intensive care at the veterinary clinic. Teddy, the fourth dog, was also chased and suffered severe injuries to his back leg and stomach. All of Cheryl's dogs were on leads, and the two attacking dogs had escaped through a missing panel in the field’s fence.

The dog walker, who was with the attacking dogs, did not intervene. After the attack, he collected the two dogs and left the scene. Cheryl believes the dogs were being walked by a friend of the owner, who had previously been warned not to let them off the lead.

Cheryl was treated at Tameside Hospital for her injuries, but doctors could not repair two of the fractures in her arm. The police were notified, but they have said there is little they can do, as it was considered a "dog on dog" incident.

Cheryl expressed concern for others, especially children, noting that these dogs may have attacked before. "If I hadn't intervened, my little girl wouldn’t be here today," she said. "My main worry is that next time it could be a child. Dogs should not be off leads in urban areas. The law needs to change so that people who are injured while saving their dog during an attack can hold the dog owners accountable."

Cheryl praised the care she received at Tameside Hospital and the treatment her dogs received at Vets for Pets in Denton.